Tread device for shoes.



WJHENSTRIDGE.

TREAD DEVICE FOR SHOES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 20. 918,

1,299,182, Patented Apr. 1,1919.

uvwavvrwa WILLIAM HENSTRIDGE, 0F SORRENTO, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA.

TREAD DEVICE FOR SHOES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. IL, 1919.

Application filed July 20, 1918. Serial No. 245,883.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM HENSTRIDGE, of the town of Sorrento, in the Province of British Columbia, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tread Devices for Shoes, of which the following is the specification.

My invention relates to improvements in tread devices for shoes and the object of the invention is to devise means for preventing the compression of the loose top soil under the foot of a gardener after gardenplanting and the consequent loss of moisture brought about by evaporation from the compressed surface and it consists essentially of the following arrangement and construction of parts as hereinafter more particularly explained.

Figure 1, is a perspective view of my tread device attached to a boot in the operative position.

Fig. 2, is a plan view of the boot sole and my device attached.

Fig. 3, isv a cross sectional view on line m Fig. 2.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the various figures.

1 indicates a boot and 2 indicates a thin toe plate formed preferably of metal secured by screws 2* to the under face of the boot sole. 3 indicates a heel plate secured by screws 3 to the lower face of the heel of the boot. 4 and 5 indicate runner-like members formed by plate-like portions extending longitudinally of the boot sole and secured to the toe plate 2 and heel plate 3 by vertical bolts, screws or rivets or any other similar device such as shown at 6. The plate-like members 4 and 5 are slightly wider at the top than at the bottom, tapering down from the top to the bottom in the form shown particularly in Fig. 3. The members 4 and 5 also project slightly beyond the toe of the boot as indicated, the lower end edges being curved upwardly at 4 and 5 as indicated. The members 4 and 5 are preferably formed of wood but may be made of any other material found desirable, such as metal tubing of the required shape.

The members 4 and 5 also are disposed longitudinally of the boot extending slightly to the inside of the center line of the boot sole so as to be nearer the inner side of the boot. By this means the natural tendency of a person toeing out when walking is obviated.

In passing over the surface of loose soil, when wearing my device, the members 4 and 5 sink readily into such loose soil and when withdrawn allow the loose earth to fall into the depression made, filling the same and forming a continuous mulch which would prevent evaporation of moisture. By tapering the members 4 and 5 downward the amount of earth compressed is reduced to a mmimum.

It will also be seen that the members 4 and 5 being very narrow there is very little danger of the user treading upon plants already planted and injuring them as is commonly the case when the sole of the wearer rests directly upon the ground.

From this description it will be seen that I have devised a very simple device which will prevent the loose top soil in a garden after planting being compressed so as to produce quick evaporation from the compressed portions and the consequent loss of moisture.

Although I have shown my members 4 and 5 connected to the boot sole by means of the plates 2 and 3 it will, of course, be understood that they may be. connected to the boot in various other ways, such as by leather strapping or by any other connecting means found desirable.

What I claim as my invention is:

A tread device for shoes adapted to be used by gardeners for preventing the compression of the loose top soil in garden planting, comprising two parallel runner like members extending longitudinally of the shoe and beyond the toe portion, the members having tapering walls inclining upwardly, substantially as described.

WILLIAM HENSTRID GE.

Witnesses FHA NK PEARSON, J CAMPBELL.

Gopies of this patent niay be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner or Patents,- Wsshlngton, D. G. 

